Study on Maintenance and Utilization of Tamed Sumatran Elephants

Advances in Biological Sciences Research, volume 14 Proceedings of the 3rd KOBI Congress, International and National Conferences (KOBICINC 2020)

Study on Maintenance and Utilization of Tamed Sumatran Elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus Temminck 1847) at the Elephant Training Center in the Seblat TWA Area, Bengkulu Rizwar1,* Darmi1 C. H. Sukoco2

1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Bengkulu, Kandang Limun, Bengkulu 38112, Indonesia 2Undergraduate Student, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Bengkulu, Kandang Limun, Bengkulu 38112, Indonesia Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT In the range of 23 years, from 1992 to 2015, there has been a drastic decrease in the number of individual tamed Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus Temminck 1847) at the Seblat Elephant Training Center (PLG) from 40 individuals to 18 individuals. Decreasing the size of the tamed elephant population is suspected to be inappropriate elephant maintenance at PLG, disease, old age and malnutrition. Good governance in the maintenance and utilization of tamed elephants at PLG is thought to be able to increase the life span of elephants and their reproductive capacity. This study aims to examine the management of PLG, especially in the maintenance and utization of tamed elephants conducted by BKSDA, Bengkulu Province. The study was conducted by direct survey method to PLG Seblat and interviewing as well as searching various relevant literatures. The parameters observed refer to the minimum standard reference for handling elephants in captivity. The results of the study found that the maintenance and utilization of the tamed elephants at PLG were only partially fulfilling the minimum standard of management of the guided elephants such as training, grazing, trekking and patrolling. While the form of maintenance that is still below the standard that needs to be improved is related to the handling of elephant health and mitigation of tamed elephant conflict with communities around the PLG

Keywords: Sumatran Elephant, TWA and Seblat PLG, Maintenance and Utilization of tamed Elephants

1. INTRODUCTION The sustainability of the TWA Seblat forest is currently under threat because the forest land Seblat Nature Tourism Park (called TWA Seblat), contains relatively large coal reserves which have aside from being a habitat for endangered wildlife become the target of investors. In addition, the TWA conservation, is also used as a place for wild Elephant area is also surrounded by oil palm plantations from Training Centers (called PLG) to become tame large companies, transmigration areas and local elephants. TWA was established based on the communities who are hungry for land [2]. This proposal of the Head of regional office of the situation thought to have an impact on the lives of Forestry Ministry and the recommendation of the elephant populations and other wildlife in it. Wild Governor of Bengkulu Province Number: 522/7754 / elephant populations in the Seblat forest area to split B / 1992. The Minister of Forestry of the Republic of into two sub-populations. The first sub-population is Indonesia confirmed the existence of TWA Seblat in the downstream Air Senaba-Air Rami trapped in covering an area of ± 7. 737 ha, through Decree No. situ in the Seblat TWA area due to the presence of a 643 / Kpts-II / 2011 [1]. barrier in the form of a large plantation area of PT.

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Alno and the second sub-population inhabit the (treatment) activities which include the timing upstream Air Seblat and Upstream Air Rami forests of periodic vaccines. In addition, also outside the TWA Seblat area [3]. Trapped conditions observed ways to care for nails, weight in the TWA area have caused elephant populations to weighing, and height measurements. often enter and damage the plantation and 2. Elephant training, what things are taught in agricultural crops of the communities around TWA. training elephants and what training methods The Elephant Training Center (PLG) was built aimed are used. at capturing wild elephants that are often in conflict with humans, then tamed through training and 3. Grazing, is elephant grazing activities carried maintenance as well as being used as a tourist out by mahout directing elephants to bathe and eat in the space provided. attraction, repelling wild elephants that enter community land and forest patrols [3-5]. 4. Trekking is a mahout riding an elephant by walking along the edge of the forest with a In 1992, the Seblat forest area which included number of tourists. Any activities carried out TWA and its surroundings, had around 375 - 390 by elephants during trekking are recorded. individuals of wild elephants and domesticated (scouted) elephants in PLG as many as 40 individuals 5. Patrols namely mahouts bring elephants into [6]. When this study was conducted, based on the forest and oversee the Seblat TWA forest Bengkulu BKSDA information, the number of area. The purpose of the patrol is recorded. remaining wild elephants trapped in the Seblat TWA 6. Conflict mitigation, where TWA Seblat tamed area was estimated to be around 40-50 individuals elephants in conflict with local communities and 18 tamed elephants. Thus in 23 years, there has often occur. Any mitigation efforts undertaken been a drastic decrease in the number of Sumatran by PLG officers to deal with the conflict of elephants in both the wild elephant population and fostered elephants are also noted. the tamed elephant. Data on utilization and maintenance of tamed The decline in the population of wild elephants in elephants in PLG Seblat, Regency of North Bengkulu the Seblat TWA area is due to reduced forest habitat in Bengkulu Province was analyzed qualitatively and area due to illegal logging and poaching [5], while described descriptively. the decline in the population of tamed elephants in PLG is thought to be due to poor management, 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION disease, old age and malnutrition. Good governance in the maintenance and utilization of fostered In general, the care and utilization of Sumatran elephants in Captivity can increase the chances of elephants in Seblat PLG have relatively met the elephant life and reproductive capacity [7]. This standards based on the guidance of the management study aims to examine the management of PLG, of tamed elephants from [8-11] except in the curative especially in the utilization and maintenance of and conflict mitigation activities which have so far fostered elephants conducted by BKSDA Bengkulu not met the standards yet (Table 1). Province. From field observations, individual elephants fostered in the Seblat PLG captivity are very 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS susceptible to various diseases such as diarrhea, tetanus, tuberculosis (TB), ectoparasites such as lice This research was conducted for one month from (mites) and bloodsucking insects, endoparasites such October to December 2016, with an effective as liver worms (Fasciola), mine or bracelet worms observation period for 30 days starting at 08.00-16.00 and others. This is because the types of feed plants WIB at the Elephant Training Center (PLG) Seblat, that are given are less varied, contact with humans Bengkulu Utara Regency. infected with tuberculosis both inside and outside the The study was conducted by direct survey method PLG is very intense, the feed provided is not clean so (direct survey) in the field and interviewing elephant it is likely to have been contaminated with worm handlers (mahout) as well as by collecting supporting eggs and fostered elephants are often used for data from various relevant literature. The parameters herding, trekking and patrol so the chances of injury observed refer to the guide for management of tamed and infection are quite high. elephants from [5-6], [9-10] which include: From the study of [12] found that the most 1. Elephant health, which is in the form of common ectoparasites attacking PLG-tamed preventive (preventative) and curative elephants were blood-sucking Diptera of Culicoides

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fulvusin while endoparasites were types of worms The health of elephants in captivity should have a Fasciola, Toxocara and Oxyuris. Parasitosis such as hospital building, clinic or ward, laboratory room, helminthiasis (nematods) is one of the most common quarantine room, isolation room and adequate diseases in elephant breeding. Fasciola liver worms veterinary or medical staff. The unavailability of and nematods are known to be a cause of death for complete facilities is the main factor causing diseased elephants fostered by Aek Nauli Elephant elephants to be handled properly. Inadequate and Conservation Camp, North Sumatra and Way fast handling of curatives, inadequate medical Kambas PLG, Lampung [11], [13-14] and several devices and medicines are the determining factors for elephant individuals in PLG Seblat. the death of tamed elephants in Captivity [15-16]. Table 1. Management of tamed Sumatran elephants at PLG Seblat, Bengkulu

Standard based on BKSDA (2004) *, Sarma & No Management Type Wardana (2004) ** and Syamsuardi et al. (2001) Observation results ***. 1. Elephant Health** -Preventive action Giving worm medicines periodically, cleaning nail, Meet standard weighing body weight

-Curative action Giving medicines directly if elephants get wounds, No standard eye iritation, stock of medicines available, Clinic facilities such as operation room and caring room available, medic team stay permanently in PLG 2. Elephant Training* Giving training types based on specialization of Meet standard - Basic elephants (for catching, riding, pulling up, attraction) - Advance 1 - Advance 2 3. Ranching*** Pastoring elephants into forest during 4 hours for Meet standard finding additional feed

4. Trekking* Riding elephant to bring tourists seeing flora and Meet standard fauna in TWA Seblat. 5. Patrols * Officials ride elephants go into Seblat TWA forest to Meet standard drive out wild elephants in private and local community (2 x/month) 7. Conflict mitigation** Making special barrier between PLG site and local No standard community lands. specializations in accordance with its designation as Death of Seblat PLG elephants is also caused by catching elephants, other factors. Based on interviews from mahout (handler), there are two elephants that died from riding elephants, pulling elephants, and attraction bloating and old age while others were because of elephants [5,17]. The method used to train tamed poaching by poisoning. elephants is shown in Table 2. There are eight types In Seblat PLG, the medical team did not stay in of training for capturing elephants, fifteen riding PLG so the treatment of sick elephants was less than elephants, eight kinds of drag elephants and twenty- optimum and was often only handled by each seven attraction elephants. Of the four elephant handler. Besides the stock of medicines is also specialties, elephant attraction is the most widely relatively limited, causing less than optimal treatment performed type of training. This is due to the of elephants. Every captive facility must have an attraction elephants undergoing every training adequate stock of medicines such as Iodine Tincture method starting from basic training, first advanced (wound medicine), Anthelmentic (worm medicine), training and second advanced training, each stage is antipyretic drugs (drugs to reduce body temperature), carried out because the attraction elephant is the analgesic drugs (painkillers), respiration and urinary, elephant that is closest to humans and does activities vitamins, skin ointment, eye ointment, fly repellent around humans so that the attraction elephant must be spray (insecticide) and gusanex (wound spray) and really tame and mastering the training stage. others [9-10]. Riding elephants do fifteen types of training The training process of PLG Seblat-tamed because the riding elephant is one of the elephants elephants uses certain techniques and stages. The that has an important role, especially in the Seblat training aims to form an elephant with different PLG. The riding elephant is also one of the elephants

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closest to humans, including those not a handler and that rarely interact with humans except mahout and the elephant riding through three types of training are placed in the forest. Catching elephants and namely basic, first advanced and second advanced pulling elephants only go through two stages of training [5]. The difference with elephant attractions training namely basic training and advanced training is that elephant riding does not learn everything at the [17]. The grazing of elephants in PLG Seblat is stage of advanced training. carried out by mahout of each elephant which starts at 08.00 WIB - 16.00 WIB. Elephants are brought on The elephants that undergo the least training rides by each handler into the forest, this is done to process are captured elephants and drag elephants. meet the natural feed of the elephant is also important Capture elephants and tug elephants are elephants to reduce the cost of additional food. Table 2. Kinds of Training Given based on Elephant Specialization Spesialization for No Types of Training Catching Riding Pulling Attraction Basic Training 1 Lifting leg on Runk √ √ √ √ 2 Back occupied √ √ √ √ 3 Neck occupied √ √ √ √ 4 Driven Training √ √ √ √ 5 Following other elephants √ √ √ √ Advanved Training (1) 6 Taking something with trunk √ √ √ √ 7 Sitting √ √ √ √ 8 Lifting leg where mahout rises and downs √ √ √ √ Advanced Training (2) 9 Back mounted other people - √ - √ 10 Sitting for long time - √ - √ 11 throwing tree bark away by trunk - √ - √ 12 Taking bathe by itself - √ - √ 13 Knocking down tree bark - √ - √ 14 Running fast - √ - √ 15 Pulling wood beam up - √ - √ 16 Respectful practice - - - √ 17 Parade training - - - √ 18 Probocis handle - - - √ 19 Sitting on the floor - - - √ 20 Sitting on milestone - - - √ 21 Standing up on milestone - - - √ 22 Standing up with 2 hind legs on floor - - - √ 23 Standing up with 2 legs on milestone - - - √ 25 Photo model training - - - √ 26 Kicking ball - - - √ 27 Dancing - - - √ 28 Bringing person with trunk - - - √ 29 Pretending to sleep - - - √ 30 Taking goods - - - √ 31 Hanging flower - - - √ 32 Stepping over people - - - √ Total 8 15 8 27 Pastoral activity in the Seblat TWA PLG has met When being herded, the condition of the the criteria because according to [10], good grazing elephant's feet is handcuffed so that the elephant does of elephants is done after elephants are bathed and not run away from the community plantations when grazing must be done with a minimum period of two the elephant is abandoned. After the afternoon the hours with good availability of natural food. The elephant was picked up again by the handler and then tamed elephants in WKNP Lampung are not always immediately taken to the river to meet the drinking in cages or moorings, but elephants are released to water needs of the elephant, after that the elephant enter the forest with the aim of finding natural food was immediately instructed to bring additional feed sources and wallowing sites [14]. Herding is also in the form of palm oil fronds and tied at an elephant tethering site around the camp.

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intended to allow elephants to freely feed according Conflicts between the tamed elephants and to their preferences. humans often occur because the location of the PLG is adjacent to the location of the plantation and Trekking activities at Seblat PLG are tour community settlements. The parties only bound the packages for visitors who want to ride elephants into fostered elephants with chains at the moorings. the forest to observe wild flora and fauna in TWA Seblat. In addition, visitors can bathe, provide food The absence of barriers in the form of concrete / and take pictures directly with elephants. Trekking electric wire fence or hedge barbed and sharp- activities are conducted were visitors and mahout as smelling which is not preferred by elephants. drivers. The trekking method in Seblat PLG is not Conflicts occur when tamed elephants are released different from that applied in the TN Tesso Nilo semi-wild to search for food in the TWA forest and at PLG, Riau [18]. Trekking activities in Seblat PLG moorings. This effort is considered not optimal to have met the criteria applied by Bengkulu BKSDA, prevent the entry of elephants into community where trekking packages are implemented by plantations, this is evidenced by observations in the providing tour packages for visitors and are charged field, that there is one elephant that entered the based on the package chosen. community plantations and damaged crops. This happened because the chains of the elephant chains The Seblat TWA area still has many wild broke and the elephants crossed the river to get to the elephants that often damage community plantations land. After that the elephants were herded back to and private plantations, therefore BKSDA conducts PLG by mahout when there was a report by the local routine activities namely Patrol. Patrol activities in community. the TWA Seblat PLG are carried out twice a month, namely at the beginning of the month and at the end The management of conflict mitigation of tamed of the month. This patrol activity was carried out for elephants with humans around the Seblat PLG is ten days and consisted of three teams. The elephants different from the Tesso Nilo PLG, where in this that are brought must be in a healthy condition and PLG, a fence is built to prevent the tamed elephants the handlers must carry medicine equipment, from entering the community plantations. The barrier machetes and ambiguous. Patrol aims to drive out is made in the form of a fence of ropes smeared with groups of wild elephants that are approaching the chili and tobacco. While electric fences, smoke- plantation area. In addition, the patrol also aims to producing devices, bonfires / kerosene lamps around count the number of wild elephant groups that remain the garden, sound traps using fireworks or drums are by looking at traces and faeces, driving out forest often used to drive wild elephants [5,18]. encroachers, and rescuing wildlife protected from According to the Elephant Conflict Reduction or snares or hooks installed by the community [5]. Mitigation Protocol [19, 20] to overcome conflicts As a comparison, patrol activities with tamed between elephants and humans there are several ways elephants in the Tesso Nilo Patrol National Park are to do that are to make physical barriers in the form of also carried out routinely on Tuesday and Saturday sturdy fences, drive away elephants directly, foster patrol at 08:00 - 17:00 WIB. The handler is equipped habitat around the camp and not tether elephants in with equipment to drive / herd elephants, which are areas that are too close to community plantations. paralon cannons and spears. In patrols the presence of Thus, the management of Sumatran elephant conflict wild elephants includes sound, direction of footprints, mitigation under the guidance of PLG Seblat and the community is still not going well because it does not feces, wrestling, broken or fallen trees which are meet the established standards and criteria. passed by wild elephants. If the direction of the movement of wild elephants to the village or population settlement, then the trail continues to be 4. CONCLUSION traced until found wild elephants both single and in From the results of research on studies in the groups that will be driven out [18]. maintenance and utilization of Sumatran elephants Patrol activities in Seblat PLG have fulfilled the fostered in the Seblat PLG, North Bengkulu it can be procedures of BKSDA where patrols are carried out concluded: during the day by carrying healthy elephants, in a Maintenance and utilization of fostered elephant state of non-heat and complete equipment, namely: populations in the TWA Seblat PLG such as disease ambiguous, carbide cannon, machetes, matches, prevention, training, grazing, trekking and patrols location maps, GPS, medicines (P3K), stationery, and have met management standards based on Sumatran metre [5, 10]. elephant management guidelines except for curative

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